March 24, 2009

Box Score

SEATTLE, Wash. --- The 10th-ranked Anteaters recorded a season-high 17 runs in a 17-13 win over Washington Tuesday at Husky Ballpark. The win lifted UCI to 13-6 while Washington fell to 9-12.

The two teams combined for five wild pitches, four hit batsmen and three passed balls in a game that had four lead changes and one tie.

The UCI offense was paced by freshman Ronnie Shaeffer, who was 4 for 5 with three runs scored and an RBI and was a triple away of hitting for the cycle for the second consecutive game. Casey Stevenson was 3 for 4 with two RBI and two runs scored while Brock Bardeen blasted a pair of home runs, bringing his season total to a team-high six. Jeff Cusick also had a multiple-hit game going 2 for 6 with an RBI and a run scored.

The Anteater scoring began in the first without the benefit of a hit as Ben Orloff led off with a one-out walk, stole second, took third on a passed ball and crossed the plate on a wild pitch.

Washington answered in the bottom of the inning with a run on a wild pitch, a bases-loaded walk and an RBI single by Aaron Russell to take a 3-1 lead.

Husky catcher Pierce Rankin doubled in a run in the second for Washington for a 4-1 edge but UCI chased starter Jorden Merry from the mound with a six-run third. Orloff began the inning with a two-out walk and Fisher was hit by the pitch to put runners on first and second for Cusick who singled in Orloff. Fisher would score on a wild pitch and Bardeen drew a full-count walk to load the bases. Eric Dergsich jumped on a 2-2 pitch for a two-run single through the left side and Stevenson singled in two runs to cap the inning for the Anteaters.

Bardeen homered over the right-centerfield wall to tie the game at eight in the fifth inning but the Huskies answered again in the bottom of the frame, scoring four runs with Troy Scott's three-run shot highlighting the inning and giving Washington a 12-8 lead.

Shaeffer launched a solo home run, his second of the season, to lead off the Anteater eighth and a passed ball would later allow Stevenson to score from third. Orloff's two-out walk was cashed in on a clutch hit by Fisher for the 13-12 lead.

Conley tied the game for Washington in the eighth, reaching third on a three-base error by UCI and then crossing the plate on a sacrifice fly by Scott.

The Anteaters loaded the bases with one out in the ninth and DJ Crumlich's sacrifice fly to center allowed Bardeen to score. Dillon Bell's two-run double and an RBI single from Orloff broke open the game for the eventual 17-13 decision.

UCI reliever Noel Avison picked up in the sixth and retired six straight before the error produced a Husky baserunner. Avison secured the next two outs before issuing a single and two walks but induced a fielder's choice grounder to third to end the inning. Avison picked up his first win this season (1-0) after holding Washington to an unearned run on one hit in three innings of work. UCI starter Cory Hamilton lasted three innings, allowing five runs on six hits and walking five in the no-decision. Eric Pettis pitched a perfect ninth to end the game.

Andrew Kittredge was credited with the loss after giving up four runs in 2/3 innings. Starter Jorden Merry allowed six runs on three hits in 2.2 innings.

The series concludes Wednesday at 2:00 p.m.